The US media has finally discovered Iran. For the past few years the media has largely ignored news regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Tony Snow of the Fox News Network has put it, this is probably the most under-reported news story of the year. As a result, most Americans are unaware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is NOT supported by the masses of Iranians today. Modern Iranians are among the most pro-American in the Middle East. In fact they were one of the first countries to have spontaneous candlelight vigils after the 911 tragedy (see photo).

There is a popular revolt against the Iranian regime brewing in Iran today. I began these daily threads June 10th 2003. On that date Iranians once again began taking to the streets to express their desire for a regime change. Today in Iran, most want to replace the regime with a secular democracy.

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movement in Iran from being reported. Unfortunately, the regime has successfully prohibited western news reporters from covering the demonstrations. The voices of discontent within Iran are sometime murdered, more often imprisoned. Still the people continue to take to the streets to demonstrate against the regime.

In support of this revolt, Iranians in America have been broadcasting news stories by satellite into Iran. This 21st century news link has greatly encouraged these protests. The regime has been attempting to jam the signals, and locate the satellite dishes. Still the people violate the law and listen to these broadcasts. Iranians also use the Internet and the regime attempts to block their access to news against the regime. In spite of this, many Iranians inside of Iran read these posts daily to keep informed of the events in their own country.

This daily thread contains nearly all of the English news reports on Iran. It is thorough. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary. The news stories and commentary will from time to time include material from the regime itself. But if you read the post you will discover for yourself, the real story of what is occurring in Iran and its effects on the war on terror.

I am not of Iranian heritage. I am an American committed to supporting the efforts of those in Iran seeking to replace their government with a secular democracy. I am in contact with leaders of the Iranian community here in the United States and in Iran itself.

If you read the daily posts you will gain a better understanding of the US war on terrorism, the Middle East and why we need to support a change of regime in Iran. Feel free to ask your questions and post news stories you discover in the weeks to come.

If all goes well Iran will be free soon and I am convinced become a major ally in the war on terrorism. The regime will fall. Iran will be free. It is just a matter of time.

Iran Wants to Amend Nuclear Freeze, EU Says 'No'

By REUTERSPublished: November 24, 2004

Filed at 2:25 p.m. ET

VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has asked to be allowed to exclude some research and development work usable in nuclear bomb-making from a freeze on sensitive atomic projects, but EU negotiators rejected the request, diplomats said on Wednesday.

One Western diplomat said the request amounted to Iranian ``chutzpah'' before a meeting on Thursday of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is investigating whether Iran has a secret nuclear arms program.

Another said it was a clear message that Tehran had no intention of ending work on producing fuel, an activity that the United States believes will enable Iran to make nuclear arms.

The request followed an Iranian pledge to France, Britain and Germany last week that it would suspend its entire uranium enrichment program and all related activities in a bid to avoid possible economic sanctions by the U.N. Security Council.

``The Iranians asked to be allowed to continue conducting research and development with centrifuges during the freeze, but the Europeans told them, 'No','' a Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

``Iran has asked to be allowed to test centrifuge rotors during the freeze,'' said another diplomat, adding this would require permission to operate several dozen centrifuges.

The freeze, which includes all centrifuge work, took effect on Monday, though Iranian officials said it would be short. Centrifuges purify uranium to fuel power plants or weapons by spinning at supersonic speeds.

NO IRANIAN COMMENT AVAILABLE

Iran's delegation to the IAEA was unavailable for comment.

The United States accuses Iran of having a secret nuclear weapons program and has threatened to press for U.N. Security Council sanctions. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is only for power generation.

Last Friday, diplomats said Iran was producing large amounts of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) gas, the form of uranium fed into centrifuges during the enrichment process.

The report, denied by Tehran but confirmed by the IAEA, prompted European Union diplomats to question Iran's intentions.

One diplomat said intelligence reports said Iran hoped to make it through Thursday's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-member board and later announce plans for a cascade of centrifuges to produce bomb-grade uranium.

``They already have the parts for 1,100 to 1,200 centrifuges,'' said the diplomat, adding this number could purify enough uranium for a bomb within two years.

With nearly five months until a March session of the board, Iran could make much progress before an immediate threat of U.N. sanctions returned, he said.

France, Britain and Germany have circulated a draft IAEA resolution to be submitted to Thursday's meeting that appears to be unacceptable to most board members outside the EU.

Washington is unhappy at the lack of a ``trigger'' clause that would refer Iran's case to the U.N. Security Council if Tehran resumed any enrichment-related work.

Iran rejects what it sees as an indirect trigger in the text. The draft says it is ``essential'' Iran keep all parts of its enrichment program suspended if its case is to be resolved ``within the framework of the Agency.''

While not a direct threat of referral to the U.N. Security Council this wording hinted it could be considered, making it troublesome for some board members and Iran, diplomats said.

But Iran played down the disputes. ``Such discussions are quite normal in such a stage,'' Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told reporters in Tehran.

To shouts of ``No compromise,'' tens of thousands of Iran's Basij militia staged a show of strength before the IAEA meeting.

Wearing military fatigues and some armed with Kalashnikov rifles, members of the voluntary organization described by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as ``Iran's atomic bomb,'' also shouted ``Death to America, Death to Israel.''

3
posted on 11/24/2004 10:44:49 PM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

Diplomats who have seen the resolution say it is unlikely to satisfy the US, which is thought to prefer a tougher stance whereby any lapse would immediately trigger Iran's referral to the UN Security Council.

The US has led calls for the IAEA to refer Iran to the Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions.

Last week, diplomats said Tehran was rushing through production of uranium hexafluoride gas - a form of uranium that is fed into centrifuges during the enrichment process - before Monday's freeze.

Tehran denounced the accusation as a "sheer lie". It has always maintained its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful.

Two days after the suspension came into effect, diplomats were quoted as saying that Tehran had asked that more than 24 centrifuges be exempted for "research purposes".

"The Iranians asked to be allowed to continue conducting research and development with centrifuges during the freeze, but the Europeans told them no," a Western diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

4
posted on 11/24/2004 10:46:42 PM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

EU rejects Iran's demand for exemptions from nuclear freeze deal

www.chinaview.cn 2004-11-25 10:28:25

VIENNA, Nov. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran has asked the UN nuclear watchdog to exempt several dozen centrifuges from a freeze on its sensitive atomic projects, but European Union negotiators rejected the request, diplomats said on Wednesday.

A diplomat close to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran is "trying to convince the IAEA to leave several dozen of the centrifuges unsealed for research and development purposes."

Another diplomat said Iran's request is equal to a "chutzpah" before the IAEA convenes Thursday to determine whether Iran is fulfilling its commitment to stop all uranium enrichment and related activities, and considers possible sanctions if it isn't.

A Western diplomat believed the request is a clear message that Teheran has no intention of ending its nuclear fuel production.

A diplomat revealed on condition of anonymity that EU negotiators have rejected Iran's request.

After lengthy negotiations with France, Germany and Britain, Iran said last week it would stop all uranium enrichment-related activities in exchange for nuclear technology from Europe.

The United States has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, a charge strongly denied by Tehran, which said its nuclear plan was completely for peaceful purposes.

5
posted on 11/24/2004 10:47:41 PM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

Iran pushing for UN exemptions

VIENNA: Iran has asked the UN atomic agency to exempt several dozen centrifuges from an agreement with the European Union which went into effect two days ago freezing its nuclear fuel cycle, diplomats said yesterday. The development, which has been rejected by the EU, comes ahead of a meeting today of the UN watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to review what was supposed to be a total freeze on uranium enrichment activities.

Under the terms of a deal hammered out with Britain, France and Germany, Tehran was to suspend all uranium enrichment activities from Monday, a move which is now being verified by the IAEA.

The Vienna IAEA talks will also decide whether Iran should be sent to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, as the United States wants, over its nuclear programme.

But a diplomat who covers the IAEA said the Iranians "are trying to convince the IAEA to leave several dozen of the centrifuges unsealed for RD (research and development) purposes in addition to other equipment which has direct use for enrichment."

A Western diplomat said it would be "outrageous" if Iran at the last minute exempted some centrifuges, the machines used in enriching uranium.

"It is not acceptable to us," a European diplomat said.

He said IAEA officials were meeting with an Iranian delegation in Vienna to point out that the Europeans insisted on a full, unequivocal suspension.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors will hear a European draft resolution based on the suspension agreement and which finally won US backing.

Diplomats said Washington had taken a pragmatic decision to back the European draft, even though it falls short of demanding possible UN sanctions for Iran.

The US is "just being pragmatic for once, recognising that the EU3 (Britain, Germany, France) text is pretty good and that there are few good policy alternatives to joining consensus on it," a Western diplomat said.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is strictly peaceful and the head of Iran's hardline parliament warned that deputies would press for a resumption of enrichment if the country comes under too much pressure at the IAEA meeting.

In other developments, tens of thousands of Iran's Basij militia, to shouts of "no compromise" staged a show of strength near Tehran.

The voluntary organisation, which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently dubbed as "Iran's atomic bomb", staged a military parade south of the capital and vowed to defend their country against any foreign threat.

Wearing military fatigues and some armed with Kalashnikov rifles, the basijis hailed their commander with the customary shouts of "Death to America, Death to Israel".

"The Basij force, as the backbone of Iran's national authority... will never give in to the bullying of imperialism led by the United States," Revolutionary Guards Commander Yahya Rahim Safavi said after the parade.

"The ship of (US President George W) Bush's Middle East policy has run aground in Iraq. I don't feel any danger from them," he said in answer to a question about the possibility of a US attack on Iran.

6
posted on 11/24/2004 10:48:10 PM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

Iran has "sanitised" nuke enrichment site -exiles

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) An Iranian exile group said today Iran had taken steps to ''sanitise'' a military plant where it said Tehran had been making bomb-grade uranium for use in nuclear weapons.

Iran denies it is trying to make an atomic bomb, saying its nuclear ambitions are purely peaceful to generate electricity.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which has given accurate information on Tehran's nuclear sites in the past, said the government began to remove sensitive material from the Lavizan plant after the NCRI publicised details of activity there last Wednesday.

The NCRI said Revolutionary Guards surrounded the plant within hours, closed it to traffic and stopped all staff from leaving.

''(Iranian officials) began to sanitise the site and remove sensitive documents, equipment and materials,'' a spokesman for the NCRI told a news conference in London.

''During the night, truck movements in and out of the site were reported.'' The NCRI, which cited well-placed but disillusioned people within government as its source, accused Tehran last week of using advanced lasers and centrifuges to enrich uranium secretly at Lavizan, in Tehran, and at Parchin, 30 km from the capital.

8
posted on 11/24/2004 10:49:01 PM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

Iran's nukes 'not the only target'

If the U.S. or Israel attacks Iran, operations would not be limited to the targeting of Tehran's suspected nuclear sites, but could also include attacks against several key military and industrial installations, the former head of Mossad's foreign intelligence told WorldNetDaily in an exclusive interview.

"From a hypothetical point of view, one shouldn't assume any attack would only target nuclear facilities. Other targets of significance to the Iranians could be attacked, including military bases, oil facilities and certain industrial facilities," said Uzi Arad, former director of Mossad's Intelligence Division and Chairman of Israel's prestigious Herzliya Conference.

"The Iranians shouldn't make the assumption that just because they hide a few nuclear sites they are safe. There are enough targets to exact a very heavy price on Tehran, so much so that it should render their entire nuclear exercise a losing proposition," said Arad.

Last week, the National Council for Resistance, a grass-roots Iranian organization that in the past has accurately revealed Iranian nuclear sites, announced Tehran was producing enriched uranium and testing biological and chemical warfare projects at a secret plant in northeast Iran that had not been disclosed to United Nations inspectors.

WorldNetDaily reported exclusively the site is hidden many feet below a development of luxury villas in the Iranian suburb of Nour in the Lavizan district of northeast Tehran.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said he has seen intelligence corroborating some of the Council's disclosures and that Iran may be researching the use of conventional warheads to deliver nuclear material.

Arad said the Iranians shouldn't view America's troubles in Iraq as an impediment to its ability to attack Iran.

"The Iranian planners should not make the easy assumption that Iraq will hamper America's efforts. Iraq gives the U.S. certain important tactical advantages, including a major staging base. We may be talking here mostly about an air campaign against Iran, and this kind of targeting can be mounted and staged from neighboring Iraq," said Arad.

Arad said for now America and the international community must continue to press for sanctions and other methods of intense pressure against Tehran, and suggested the Iranian regime should view Iraq as a warning.

"We saw in Iraq what happens to a country that supports terrorism and tries to obtain WMDs," he said. "Iraq should serve as an example, both from this war and during the first Gulf War, that when America acts, it brings an overwhelming force to bear. The Iranian leaders must ask themselves whether they are willing to take this very high risk gamble with their nuclear program because they might end up where Saddam is today."

"If Iran proceeds, it will be disastrous for the world," said Arad. "It would place nuclear weapons in the hands of a hostile totalitarian regime. It would be a victory for all states that support terrorism, a clear signal to hard-liners that they can get away with such things. It would stiffen the negotiating positions on key diplomatic disputes, including the Arab-Israeli conflict. It would have a spillover effect on other countries  Saudi Arabia would want such weapons. It would destabilize the Gulf region, have consequences for the world oil supply. And it would mean the total unraveling of the nonproliferation regime and the International Atomic Energy Agency's ability to be effective."

Support of Iranian opposition by the international community could be an effective way of handling the current regime, said Arad.

"The regime does not have strong domestic support. There is a great deal of resentment on the surface. Its stability can be greatly reduced by the people themselves."

Arad told WorldNetDaily the issue of Iran and other key regional issues, including Israel's Gaza withdrawal and its growing relationship with the EU and involvement in NATO, will be discussed at this years Herzliya Conference in mid-December.

The conference, in its fifth year, is known to set the tone for regional policies and has been the site of several major policy speeches by Israeli leaders. Sharon last year announced at the conference his disengagement plan, and in 2002 detailed the U.S.-backed roadmap to peace. Arad said to expect similarly important diplomatic announcements this year, as well.

9
posted on 11/25/2004 12:28:05 AM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

Interesting developments for Iran in the international atomic energy agency in the last new cycle. If Iran can't use their 20 or so centrifuges, and even if they are not refer to the UN Security Council, they will be in quite a bind. They do have the option of running the centrifuges anyway, and hoping that the world will just ignore their threat.Which I do not think will happen.The Israeliscannot change the Iranian regime, but they can make life very unpleasant for them. And I do not believe that the Bush administration will allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.but bombing their nuclear installations is not the end answer. They will rebuild their nuclear installations eventually. The only real solution is regime change. And regime change in Iran is the only way we can win in Iraq.

I've always imagined that we are going to do this while being opposed by Europe and the United Nations.if Iran gets referred back to the UN Security Council today, then I think Iran is finished.

Without Europe, there is no good solution. But it must be done, no matter what the cost. It is kind of interesting war gaming Iran, as opposed to Iraq. In Iraq, it was just a matter of how much force we're going to apply. There was no question that we would win. But in Iran, an Iraq style military siege is neither possible, and even if it was, it would be a catastrophe, 100 times worse than Iraq.

There is also the option of the Iranian people rising up against the regime. I have no doubt that they would be successful - but I do not believe it would happen soon enough. We only had a few months to work with, not a couple of years. There are also no militant groups in Iran that we could work with, unlike the Northern alliance in Afghanistan.

The most promising option, a naval blockade and near worldwide refusal to buy their oil,would still depend on the Iranian people rising up, for the most part If Europe does not go along with us, I do not see how it can work.

I think that in the end, we will see some sort of military action. Hopefully, in the form of small special forces units. We need to secure the nuclear installations, and also to help restore order after the fall of the regime.

I think the surefire way of getting the regime out of power is to engage in thousands of air strikes on critical targets of the regime. But there'll still be three questions and issues still need to be resolved: securing the nuclear installations, establishing peace and order, and neutralizing the remaining regime elements and terrorist organizations (Iran is the headquarters of terrorism; they're not going down without a fight).

So basically, it boils down to this: it ain't going to be pretty, it probably going to be very ugly, but it absolutely must be done. If Iran gets nuclear weapons, it will be only a matter of time before Al Qaeda gets nuclear weapons as well. This is just like it was before World War II. Are we going to be Churchill or Chamberlain this time?

Khatami slams draft IAEA resolution

(AFP)25 November 2004

TEHERAN - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami on Thursday criticised an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution on its nuclear activities drawn up by Britain, France and Germany, state television reported.

The resolution presented by the European countries is not a good resolution, Khatami said, adding that intense negotiations are currently underway between non-aligned states and the Europeans to change the draft.

The IAEA will decide at a board of governors meeting which opened Thursday whether to bring Iran before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, sought by the United States for what it says is a covert nuclear weapons programme.

IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei is to report to the agencys 35-nation board on whether Iran has fulfilled its pledge to suspend all of its controversial nuclear fuel work.

The draft resolution stops short of calling for a Security Council referral, but nevertheless maintains strong pressure on the Islamic regime.

But Khatami complained that the Europeans were trying to legally oblige Iran to maintain an unlimited suspension, whereas it had only agreed to freeze its uranium enrichment activities for the duration of a fresh round of negotiations aimed at reaching a long-term solution to the nuclear stand-off.

The non-aligned states, like Iran, insist on the natural and legal right of all IAEA members to master civilian nuclear technology, Khatami said.

A similar complaint was also made Thursday by the hardline head of the Iranian parliaments foreign policy and national security commission, Allaeddin Borujerdi.

We will not allow the Europeans to deprive Iran of enrichment, he was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.

Enriching uranium for peaceful purposes is permitted by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), although it is feared Iran could divert its bid to generate atomic energy into a weapons programme by enriching uranium to weapons grade.

Officials here have also complained that the drafts demands that Iran allow unrestricted access by IAEA inspectors to sites here went beyond the terms of the NPT and its additional protocol.

13
posted on 11/25/2004 11:26:26 AM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

The Islamic republic requested on Wednesday that it be allowed to operate dozens of centrifuges "for research purposes." The process is an activity Iran agreed to ban under a uranium enrichment freeze that went into effect Monday.

Citing a Western diplomat on condition of anonymity, Reuters reports that

'Iran has asked to be allowed to test centrifuge rotors during the freeze,' said a diplomat, who added that this would require permission to operate a number of centrifuges.

Centrifuges are machines that purify uranium by spinning at supersonic speeds. The finished product can be used to fuel power plants or nuclear weapons.

The Iranians want the equipment exempted from UN watchdog "seals meant to ensure the enrichment program is completely shut down," reports the Associated Press.

Tehran's move comes on the eve of a Nov. 25 meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation board of governors in Vienna. The session will examine Iran's compliance with international demands meant to ease suspicions about its nuclear activities, reports EurActiv.com.

Under a draft resolution submitted by Britain, France and Germany, the IAEA should be able to monitor Iran's observance of its pledge not to enrich uranium. However, Washington considers this to be too weak. The US wants any eventual resumption of enrichment-related activities by Iran to be automatically referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

The timing of the request for an exemption fueled skepticism on Iran's motive. Iran just signed an agreement with the European Union less than a week ago. In addition, the request for an exemption comes on the heels of a statement made Wednesday by Seyev Hossein Mousavian, Iran's chief negotiator with the IAEA, reports EurActiv.

'Iran will never be prepared to completely dismantle its nuclear programme,' said Seyev Hossein Mousavian.

'Iran is prepared to give all assurances that uranium enrichment activities will never be diverted [to develop weapons]. That's why we should have the right for peaceful nuclear technology and that this right should be exercised with no discrimination. That's why dismantlement is out of the question,' he said.

On Monday, before Iran made its request for an exemption on the use of centrifuges, the head of the cleric-driven parliament indicated that "deputies would press for a resumption of a controversial nuclear fuel program if the country comes under too much pressure" at the forthcoming meeting of the UN atomic energy watchdog, reports Agence France-Presse(AFP).

'The parliament is expecting that the IAEA and the European Union show that they respect their commitments during the meeting of the board of governors,' Gholamali Haddad Adel told the assembly.

'Otherwise the parliament will force the government to resume enrichment.'

Any backtracking on the initial agreement reenforces the US belief that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon and could strengthen western demands of "proof" of compliance in Iranian intentions.

Mr. Mousavian, repeated the Iranian positon that Washington has "no right to make such claims." Iran maintains that "suspension will be only temporary and insists that it has the ultimate right to enrich uranium," reports AP.

Iran dismisses US assertions that it wants to use the technology to make weapons, saying it is interested only in generating nuclear power.

YaleGlobal-online, in an essay summarizing the concerns and conditions needed for an IAEA-Iranian compromise, emphasized how earlier this month US Secretary of State Colin Powell sharply reminded Europeans of the implications of a nuclear Iran when he alleged that the nuclear program was being coordinated with a missile delivery system.

To be sure, US Secretary of State Colin Powell's suggestion that Iran might be adapting a missile system to carry a nuclear warhead has grave implications. If true, these allegations, paired with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) evidence of Iran's illicit acquisition of nuclear material and technology, would prove that Iran is violating its Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty commitment to develop nuclear technology solely for peaceful purposes. The Iranian nuclear issue would then almost have to be sent to the UN Security Council for enforcement action - a move that would expose rifts among the major powers, as well as the international system's relative fecklessness in dealing with the threat to international peace and security posed by proliferation.

Britain, Germany, and France are expected to demand that UN nuclear inspectors be allowed to go wherever they see fit in their efforts to investigate Tehran's nuclear program, reports the Guardian.

The unprecedented demand comes in a resolution drafted by the Europeans for a board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency taking place this week in Vienna. If adopted by the board, the resolution will give inspectors the kind of access rights they have enjoyed only in Iraq.

The conversion continued until shortly before Monday's freeze deadline, "raising doubts about Iran's interest in dispelling international concerns," says AP.

Tehran ultimately plans to run 50,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium in the central city of Natanz. Iran says the Natanz facility is meant to meet the fuel requirements of a nuclear reactor being built with Russian help that is expected to be finished next year.

For now, it is far short of that goal, possessing less than 1,000 centrifuges, most of them bought secretly through the black market network of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Kahn, the rest made domestically. But experts estimate Iran is not far away from being able to run the 1,500 centrifuges that are needed for making the amount of highly enriched uranium - about 45 pounds - needed for one crude weapon a year.

A diplomat with nuclear expertise said that amount would be about a quarter of the quantity needed to produce the 25 kilograms - or more than 50 pounds - of weapons-grade uranium for one small nuclear weapon.

14
posted on 11/25/2004 11:34:42 AM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

DoctorZin Note: Either they have information the rest of the media is unaware of or this report is wishful thinking.

Putin welcomes Irans decision to abandon full nuclear cycle

25.11.2004, 19.02

THE HAGUE, November 25 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told a news conference on the results of the 14th Russia-EU summit on Thursday that Moscow welcomed Irans intention to stop the development of its own full nuclear fuel cycle technologies and was ready to continue cooperation with Teheran in the peaceful use of the atom in case the final agreements are reached.

We welcome Irans statement on abandoning the full nuclear cycle technology. The remarks of Iranian representatives on this subject need to be additionally studied, Putin emphasized.

I hope that all these problems will be closed at an expert level, President Putin went on to say.

Anyway, we think that great progress has been made to close the Iranian nuclear dossier. We are holding bilateral talks with Iran, helping it to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and intend to continue this cooperation if final agreements are reached, Putin stressed.

Commenting on the results of Ukraines presidential elections, President Putin said that he didnt think that Russia had taken a passive stance on the post-election situation in Ukraine compared to other countries, especially Western states.

I dont think that we, Russia, have taken a passive stance. Neither do I think that any foreign country should recognize or not recognize the results of presidential elections in Ukraine. Its up to the Ukrainian people. These elections dont need any outside recognition, Putin told a Russian reporter.

Everybody understands that Ukraine is in the heart of Europe and will build normal friendly relations with all the neighbours, Putin added.

At the beginning of the election race in Ukraine I said that we are ready to work with any president whom the Ukrainian people are going to elect. I telephoned Yanukovich and congratulated him after 90% of the votes were counted and the Central Electoral Commission announced the first results.

Naturally, we dont think that we have the right to meddle in the election process and impose our opinion on the Ukrainian people, Putin stressed.

The Russian president said in conclusion that he agreed with EU Foreign Policy and Security Chief Javier Solana that the unity of the Ukrainian state should be preserved.

15
posted on 11/25/2004 11:47:38 AM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

IAEA: Confidence in Iran's Nuclear Program Has Eroded

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran has exempted some centrifuges from its commitment to freeze uranium enrichment and lacks trustworthiness because of past concealment and delays in disclosing information. The IAEA board of governors in Vienna, is to decide whether to censure Iran for its conduct.

IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozdecky told reporters outside the board meeting that the issue of Iran's nuclear program was by no means closed.

"The two most important issues are as we've said for some time, to explain the contamination that we've seen on the enriched uranium particles from environmental samples, there are still some unanswered questions as to how those came to be where they were," he said. "And the other issue is the so-called P 2 centrifuge program that Iran has there's some unanswered questions about the nature and the extent of that program, particularly what happened between 1995 and 2002 and around 1995 Iran got the designs for the P2 and they say that they didn't take any action and they say they didn't do any work on the P2 until 2002. We need to see more documentation and more corroboration to support that statement, so far we haven't had enough to satisfy ourselves that there was no action taken in those years."

Mr. Gwozdecky said he hopes the 35-nation IAEA board will reach a consensus on Iran later this week.

The IAEA says its wants to do independent sampling in Pakistan to confirm the actual source of contaminated equipment in Iran. Tehran claims the contamination was already on equipment it bought on the nuclear black market.

Mohamed ElBaradei

Earlier Thursday, the head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, told board members in a closed session that Iran's confidence deficit needs to be restored through more cooperation and transparency.

Mr. ElBaradei said IAEA inspectors have verified Iran's suspension of its uranium enrichment program and have sealed equipment and installed cameras to monitor activities at facilities in Iran. But he said Iran has informed the IAEA it wants to continue to use around 20 centrifuge components for research and that this request was under consideration.

The request has annoyed European powers, who recently struck a deal under which Tehran would fully freeze uranium enrichment activities in exchange for nuclear technology.

The U.S. government accuses Iran of secretly working on a nuclear weapons program and is pushing for a tough resolution to censure the Islamic republic. Iran denies these charges.

16
posted on 11/25/2004 1:47:29 PM PST
by DoctorZIn
(Until they are Free, "We shall all be Iranians!")

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